Thursday, December 29, 2011

Good Morning! I am so glad we're back with the Pretty Patterns challenges. I have been looking forward to playing with this sketch and glitters! I hope you like this.

My card features a beautiful butterfly set called All A Flutter....

I printed an outlined image and cut it out into a 2" base. This is where I added glue and glitter. I fussy cut the detail image of the butterfly and the blacked out the white card stock with a Copic marker #100. Looking at it close up isn't so pretty, but it accomplished what I needed. Then I put my card together and finished it with ribbon, a couple of cheater bows (see this great video from Fabulously Artsy) and a sugar-coated brad.

I then added a lot of bling. Not only the glitter that I've been dying to use, but added silver pearls I got from the $1 bin at Joann's and green rhinestones that I was given from Simon Says.

My card also fits the challenge over at iCopic Lover. I think I did an over the top amount of bling with all the glitter and rhinestone.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

This is the last day of my mini vacation. I have really enjoyed being off with the kids and it was a much needed break.

So Friday is our holiday potluck and gift exchange. Lucky me, I drew my boss' name and I really thought she would be easy to do a gift for. Well, she's not.... she's got some pretty expensive taste. I couldn't find Betsy Johnson jewelry in my price range so I decided it wouldn't be a gift from me if I didn't make something. So here's what I made.

So, I found this tutorial on SCS for a Stationary Box. I read the directions, watched Beate's 2 videos and decided this is what I had to do. I found some coordinating papers, die cuts and stickers in this stack of paper that my friend Renee gave and I went to work. This was relatively easy and fairy quick, I ran into only a couple of snags.

So you remove the lid and here's what's inside....

There are A2 size cards (6 + envelopes), 3x3 note cards (6), some tags (die cuts), a little book for addresses, a pouch for postage stamps and a pen.

Have you noticed that, even though we're card makers, the art of writing to someone is being lost. I, personally, love getting cards and letters in the mail. Its refreshing to hear from someone rather than look at another utility bill or car note.

I did make them look the same, but just changed the greetings a bit to give her some variety.

I know I will definitely make more of these. This was fun to do and I really love this idea. I thank you for stopping by.

Monday, December 26, 2011

Good Morning! Happy Monday to you. I do hope you enjoyed your Christmas holiday. We certainly did in my house. The kids' dad got them them an Xbox 360 Kinect for Christmas, so we played that pretty much the entire day yesterday and I have a feeling our day today will be pretty much the same thing. This is fun!

We have a fun challenge at Paper Pretties this week. This week we have...

Winter Wonderland

Personally, I wish I were feeling a bit of what my sister in the west is feeling, or my cousin in the north. I'd like a bit of winter chill. It was 81 degrees today here in sunny Florida. So I will just look at this sweet little snowman and mentally project myself where he is playing.

Isn't he cute? He could be ice skating, but in my scene he's pirouetting in a snowy forest.

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Good Morning! Thank you so much for coming by. I get to post another Paper Pretties card and that's because sweet Heather is sponsoring TMS this week. Yay!! Our sketch was created by Marie and it's fabulous.

Here's what I did with Marie's sketch and an adorable image from Paper Pretties....

I am also playing along with Just Us Girls this week. Their color combo is this week which is Red, Olive and Kraft.

Monday, December 19, 2011

Good Morning! Here we are, another week to begin and only 6 shopping days left to Christmas. Are you last minute, like I am? This year Christmas is rather slim, so there's not a lot of shopping to get done. I am making something for my oldest son, which has been interesting to keep it hidden.

My choice was just a splash of green. I used one of Penny Duncan's Shaplies and then pierced holes around the frame and stitched with Baker's Twine. I love this new image by ARTish. Her name is Emalina, so darn cute!!

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Hello again. I'm back here to share a new card using this week's sketch from My Time Made Easy Pretty Patterns. I loved this sketch and it worked so well with a sweet and cozy set. This card features new sets called Hats Off and Warm Sentiments.

This was so easy to put together and so much fun. My card also features the color combo challenge from There She Goes stamps. My sister is hosting this week's challenge, so I definitely wanted to play along.

I know this kind of challenge is loved by everyone because there are no limitations. So, you can create whatever you like and it'll fit this challenge.

I created a card using a tutorial on SCS for a Crimped Diamond card. This was harder than I thought it would be, but the results are worth it. I love this card. Of course, this SUPER ADORABLE image from Digital Delights by Louby Loo Flurry the Snowman can't help but make any card look fanstastic.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Good Morning! It's Tuesday and already the week is off to a good start. We have a really fun challenge at Tuesday Morning Sketches this week. It's the Judged Challenge, so there's a sketch and an added twist. This week we're playing BINGO. I love these challenges, so I had to throw one in, too.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Good Morning! I do hope your weekend was good to you. I had a great weekend, the sales didn't go so great, but hey - life goes on. The Sanford Christmas parade was fun - Hollyanne and her dance class did really well.

So let's kick the week off with a fun challenge at Paper Pretties. This week's challenge is an easy one....

Friday, December 9, 2011

Hi everyone! Happy Friday to you. Well, the craft sale last night didn't go so well. I sold one pack of cards. I'm a little disappointed but am hopeful for tomorrow's sale.

I have a card to share with you with because there were challenges that I didn't want to pass up. The layout is from a great sketch I found on Stampin' Royalty, the color combo is from Arielle's ColourQ (it's been way toooo long since I've played along), the iCopic Lover's challenge is black hair and the ATS Wednesday challenge is an Anything Goes. There's a great tutorial posted on the blog teaching how to create beautiful black hair. I failed miserably. I need so much more practice. But I think my card is cute anyway.

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Hello again. Thanks for coming back. If you're here to see my post for the MTME Pretty Patterns #39 challenge, just scroll down a bit.

This week's challenge at Delightful Challenges is....

Blue Christmas

Now, I'm not talking about crooning or swiveling hips here. We're talking about the color blue, feeling blue 'cuz you miss someone, or what the heck, let The King inspire you, too. Here's what I did with the challenge...

This front image is Window Reindeer. Now when I heard that challenge was Blue Christmas, I immediately thought of missing loved ones. So I imagine this little guy as looking into a window of his woodland friends' cabin, wondering when they were going to return.

And when you open the card, you see why he's wishing to be indoors....

Even though the snowy fields and starry sky are quite peaceful and serene, it's ttttooo cccc-cold outside for our furry little friend.

Good Morning! How's your week so far? Mine is going pretty well. I get off work a little early today for the craft sale that I've been working to get ready for and then I'm off tomorrow. What a great way to start the weekend, right? Cross your fingers for me that I do well with my sale. I really need some new Copics and I need to Christmas money, so I've go to sell sell sell.

Anyway, there's a great new Pretty Pattern to play with this week at My Time Made Easy. Here's my take on the sketch....

Fun sketch, right? I am featuring the sweet snowgirl image, Made of Snow and the free digi paper Snowflakes (it comes in a great assortment of colors).

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Good morning! It's Tuesday and that means there's a new sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches and this week we're sponsored by Tiffany Doodles.

I love my card, but Marie used the same images and her card really puts mine to shame! But I'll share it with you anyway.

I was really inspired by Arielle's color combo this past week. I'm too late to play along with her challenge, but I'll share that anyway, too. Colour Q's combo is Night of Navy, Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand and White. I substituted Sahara Sand with silver.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Good Morning! I hope you're weekend was as good to you as it was to me. I had a good evening Friday evening having dinner with my Mom and later at home working on some more cards for the craft sale this Thursday. I hope I sell a lot!

Now, I interpreted this as a Christmas card and I'm featuring a gorgeous image from ARTish. I love this Deck the Bough image, I think it's lovely.

My intent was to create a masculine card and I guess this could be, but I think I expected something else out of me. I am still very happy with my card. I am sad that my photo didn't pick up the glittered ornament. In person, it's beautiful.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

This card was created using the new stamps with coordinating dies from There She Goes. My sister sent them to 'cause she loves me and she spoils me. I created another set of cards with this set but didn't get a picture of them before I got them packaged up.

The set is called Warmest Wishes. I'll be playing with this set a bit more this weekend so stay tuned.

Challenges:
Sketch is from The What If challenge at Repeat Impressions

Friday, December 2, 2011

Hello! Happy Friday everyone. I completely forgot to post my adorable tags that I made for Bee Crafty's challenge this month. It's Christmas time, so we have a Christmas theme. Here's what I made featuring the Wish Fairies - Christmas images.

I love my tag set! I even made the matching clear box. That was a little tricky to figure out, but I after about 3 or 4 tries, I got it figured out.

Good Morning everyone! It's time for a new release over at Digital Delights by Louby Loo and since it's Thursday, it's time for a new challenge, too. This week's challenge is....

LET IT SNOW

I was given this sweet little angel, Donita Angel, to work with and I have to admit - Snow and Angels don't mix for me. So needless to say, this was a challenge for me. But it finally came together with some fun red snowflake paper and a great sketch by Karen Giron at Sweet Sunday Sketch.

I am really loving my new border dies that I got with what I had left on a gift certificate my sister gave me for my birthday. Seems that dies are popping up everywhere nowadays.

Anyway, I also pulled out my Cricut and SCAL software to create the doilie that Donita is sitting on. It's glazed with glitter, my picture didn't capture that too well.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Hi everyone! Happy Wednesday evening. I was off today so I got a chance to play a little as well as continue to work on the stuff that I am doing for the Winter Wonderland craft sale next week. I still have more I want to do, but I'm afraid that time isn't on my side. So I'll just do what I can and hope for the best.

So I created this card using a sketch from ICSketches. This worked perfectly with the image I chose to use. I am also pulling up my bootstraps and working up my nerve to participate in challenge over at iCopic Lover. I have always wanted to play along, but have never considered myself worthy. I still don't, but at least I'm trying.

Please be honest, tell me what you think of my attempt at vintage.

I distressed everything! I inked it all, I wrinkled, I scraped it... it's all on there. I even tried the cracked glass technique and for the first time in my life... it worked!! Here's a close up of the image.

You can't quite see the shine, but you can see the cracks. I am soooo excited about this. I do hope you enjoy my card. Thanks for visting. Enjoy your night.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Good Morning! Week off to a good start? Monday is over and I'm off tomorrow, so it's a good thing. We have a fun sketch over at Tuesday Morning Sketches and a new sponsor. Stretch n Bubbles is sponsoring this week. Here's my card using one of their adorable digi images.

I am not super happy with my card - I really think I should've done more with my swirls like I planned. I wimped out, I guess. But I do love the red and yellow.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Good Morning! There's a new release over at Paper Pretties, so we're off this week for the digi team challenge. So, today's card is just for a fun. I am joining a couple of other challenges, the sketch is from The Sweet Stop and my friend Joni's challenge at Raise The Bar is to create a thank you or grateful card.

I really had a lot of fun with this card. I love the colors and doing the reflective technique.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Good Morning! Today's Sunday Bliss edition is actually inspired by my sister Theresa and the girls over at JUGs. For the There She Goes release, my sister created some adorable to 3x3 cards (you can see them here). I haven't made these in years, so her sweet creations got my juices flowing. And then JUGs challenge this week is to create a box with matching cards. So here's what I did with all this creativity....

I did design my own mini pizza box. The card stock measures 5 1/2 x 10". I scored at 1" on the left and right sides long ways. Then scored at 1", 4 1/2", 5 1/2" and 9". This will give you a 3 1/2" squared box. I used my Scor-Pal.

I didn't take a picture of the inside, but I did stamp "To" "From" and "Merry Christmas" - I'm thinking of going back and punching holes and adding some ribbon so that they can be tied to a package. Or I can whip up some envelopes. I haven't quiet decided.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Hi! It's me again. I am back here to bring you another challenge. This time we're creating gift cards. You all have heard the saying that big things come in small packages. Well, I know for sure that if I give my youngest son a gift card to Game Stop, he's in 7th heaven. So why not treat someone to a special greeting that gives something sweet and special.

I am playing at my craft table this whole weekend.... at least that's my intention. I have a lot I want to do to get ready for a Winter Wonderland at work. So to play along with some of the challenges at Sweet n Sassy VSN forum, this is helping me accomplish what I want to.

Korin is challenging us to create an all white card. No decorative paper, no other color except what goes on the focal image itself. I am pretty certain this is a first for me.

So, I must tell you, that my daughter Hollyanne colored this image for me. She wanted to color with me the other night, so I gave her this one. She did such a great job, that I thought it was perfect for this card. It also fits the challenge over at Crazy 4 Challenges is to have snow on your card.

OK, be honest, you're totally loving this weekend of fun fun fun challenges just as much as I am right? I have seen some pretty phenominal projects so far and *squeal* there are more to come!!

So now we come to my challenge - and this is such a fun challenge! Let's get dual purposed with our card. My challenge is to create a card with a detachable ornament.

First, I printed this really great digi paper that I got for $1 at JessicaSprague.com, it's an Echo Park collection. I still have more to learn about how to get postioned correctly on the card base, but I got closer. I then added a text box for my greeting. It was perfect for the sweet snowman image, Smiley Snowman.

The snowman is adhered to the card with temporary adhesive and his hanger is hidden between the layers. He's actually 3 images thick.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Hello again - here's my next post for the day. You didn't think I'd forget the Delightful Challenge did you? Be sure to scroll down for the MTME Pretty Patterns Challenge. These two would work together well.

At Delightful Challenge we're playing with Red and Green. Here's what I did with the colors....

I had found another luminaria tutorial on SCS when I created the one I did for Halloween and decided to put it on the back burner for later. Well, it's later, so I had to play. This one was so easy! One piece of card stock creates the luminaria and then just decorate!

I used images from the Christmas Acessories set. Gave it all a woodsy feel with the distressed stripes embossing folder and then added a flameless candle. 3 for $1 at Dollar Tree!! Turn the lights off and you get this....

Here's a close up of the images. I added white Puffy Paint and while it's still wet, I dusted with diamond glitter.

I hope my little project inspires you to play along with us. If you're a bigger stamping fan than you are a football fan, then leave the football to the guys and play a little. Enjoy your day!

Good Morning! Oh my goodness, I am so late with my posts!! I was so busy with some preparations for today that I forgot to get my posts ready.

MTME Pretty Patterns #37 is up and ready and I LOVED this sketch. There is soooo much possibility in it, the DT did an amazing job. I am really pleased with my card. What do you think?

My card features Mrs. Candy Clause digi paper and a sentiment that is from the Beautiful Baubles set. Lauren has her digis in .png format so you can print digi paper and the sentiment at one time. The little bauble in the middle is opaque so it had it's white space for coloring. Wonderful!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Good Morning! It's Tuesday and we've got a great challenge for you at Tuesday Morning Sketches. The sketch was created by our very own Dawn - so much fun and so open for interpretation. Be sure to head on over to check it out. The challenge this week is sponsored by Stamp Fairy.

Here's what I did with Dawn's great sketch and this super sweet teddy bear from Stamp Fairy...

I found some really great metal embellishments and tree buttons that worked so well with each of the elements on the sketch.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Hi again! I hope you already started the birthday blog hop for ARTish's birthday. Thanks for coming back for the challenge. This week ARTish has created some really cute birthday image that we're playing with. The challenge is a color combo...

Black, Gold & White

This was a challenge for me! How do you decorate birthday with black and gold? Well, I think I did a pretty OK job with this card. It meant running to Joann's armed with a 40% off coupon for a gold gel pen. Tell me what you think....

I created this card with a nice sketch from Arlana at Sweet Sketch Wednesday. I miss playing along with Arlana's sketches, but I do try to get one in every now and then.

Use coupon code: STMMMS93171

About Me

I am a mother of 3 amazing young adults! I am a proud momma of a Navy Sailor, a 2nd year college student and a boy entering college soon. In my spare time, I love to cook, read, stamp and make 3D paper projects. I've been a papercrafter for 22+ years and I love every minute of it. I decided I didn't have enough to do, so I also "own" a challenge blog, Tuesday Morning Sketches.
If you need to reach me, please feel free to email me at stampedbym@gmail.com

Copyright 2006-2017

All cards, scrapbook pages, photographs and text are owned by Melissa Craig. I have created the cards and pages with copyrighted material (Papertrey Ink, DRS Designs, MFT Stamps, Hero Arts and many others) and are for personal use only. I share these ideas with you, you are free to CASE the cards but ask that you do not submit for contests or publication. Also, please give credit where credit is due. If you CASE something of mine, please tell others where you got the idea. Thanks!! Happy Stamping and inky hugs.